A meme the GOP and its para-media shills have attempted to plant is that John Kerry would be soft on terrorism (part of a larger "Kerry is anti-military" thrust). To that end, a number of those on the right have seized on Kerry's statements regarding terrorists being "brought to justice" as evidence he sees terrorism merely as a crime to be prosecuted, not a threat to be dealt with using military might.
This, of course, is a false dichotomy; most anti-terrorism experts will tell you that the best way to fight terrorism depends upon the organization, its resources, its goals and the circumstances. Indeed, war games before September 11, 2001 dealing with fighting al Qaeda-like terrorist groups found that the most effective methods for shutting them down combined military, economic, diplomatic and law enforcement efforts on an international scale. Military options, in successful scenarios, tended to be less emphasized.
Regardless, for those who feel Kerry discussing "bringing terrorists to justice" somehow signals an unwillingness to do what must be done to protect America, here are a few quotes that might put things in perspective:
"The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice."
-- President Bush, White House Press Release, "Statement by the President in His Address to the Nation", September, 2001.
"I see things this way: The people who did this act on America, and who may be planning further acts, are evil people. They don't represent an ideology, they don't represent a legitimate political group of people. They're flat evil. That's all they can think about, is evil. And as a nation of good folks, we're going to hunt them down, and we're going to find them, and we will bring them to justice."
-- President Bush, in remarks to FBI employees, White House Press Release, "President: FBI Needs Tools to Track Down Terrorists", September, 2001.
"There's an old poster out West 'Wanted -- Dead or Alive'," Mr Bush said, recalling his days growing up in west Texas. "America wants [bin Laden] brought to justice," he said. "That's what we want."
-- The Daily Telegraph, Sydney Australia, September 19, 2001.
"We're working hard to find out who is doing this and bring them to justice."
-- President Bush, responding to questions about the October, 2001 anthrax attacks, White House Press Release, "President Says Terrorists Won't Change American Way of Life", October, 2001.
"We owe it to our citizens, to the families, to be relentless and methodical in tracking down terrorists and bringing each and every one of them to justice."
-- President Bush, speaking at U.S. Attorney's Conference, White House Press Release, "President Says U.S. Attorneys on Front Line in War", November, 2001.
"We won't forget what took place. And we will bring them to justice. We'll bring them to justice in Afghanistan, and we'll bring them to justice wherever they try to hide."
-- President Bush, in remarks during a photo op with the president and prime minister of Norway, White house Press release, "President Asks Global Leaders to Play Anthems on Dec 11", December, 2001.
"Osama bin Laden is going to be brought to justice. It may happen tomorrow, it may happen in a month, it may happen in a year. But he is going to be brought to justice. He's on the run. He thinks he can hide, but he can't. We've been at this operation now for about two and a half months, and we've made incredible progress. And one of the objectives I've said, in this theater, in all theaters for that matter, is that we want al Qaeda killers brought to justice. And we'll bring him to justice."
-- President Bush, White House Press Release, "President Marks End of Ramadan at White House Ceremony",December, 2001.
"That we've got our law enforcement officers around our country -- at the federal, state and local level -- now understand that they must remain on alert, that there's still an enemy and we've got to stop them. The FBI's primary mission is homeland security, and we're working closely with folks in your communities to make sure that if there's any hint that somebody might try to harm America, that we're going to act, and act now, and bring them to justice.
"I'm proud of the efforts of many all around our country who are working endless hours to make America safe. But the best way to make America safe is to hunt the enemy down where he tries to hide and bring them to justice."
-- President Bush, White House Press Release, "President's Remarks in Aurora, MO on Anti-Terrorism Efforts", January, 2002.
"The message is the war on terror goes on, that there are killers on the loose -- obviously, killers on the loose inside of Saudi Arabia in this example. And we want to work with them and find them, find those killers and bring them to justice."
-- President Bush, answering a question regarding recent al Qaeda attacks on Saudi Arabia, White House press release, "President Bush Vows to Bring Terrorists to Justice", May, 2003.
"Thousands of very skilled and determined military personnel are on a manhunt, going after the remaining killers who hide in cities and caves -- and, one by one, we will bring the terrorists to justice."
-- President Bush, State of the Union Address, January 21, 2004.
"We'll protect the homeland. The best way to protect America, however, is to go on the offensive, stay on the offensive, and bring the terrorists to justice."
-- President Bush, White House Press Release, "President Discusses America's Leadership in Global War on Terror", January, 2004.
For every one of these quotes, there are tens of others.
There seems to be little reason to latch on to the phrase "bringing terrorists to justice" as evidence of anything more than an intent to go after terrorists, unless one can read minds. In which case, one should probably turn one's talents towards fighting terrorism more directly...
(Of course, if one feels that George Bush has dropped the ball on terrorism, the above quotes probably won't re-assure. They are primarily meant to point out that one phrase doesn't necessarily indicate a mindset.)